logo
Weather tracker: Mediterranean heatwave sparks concern for marine life

Weather tracker: Mediterranean heatwave sparks concern for marine life

The Guardian21-07-2025
A recent heatwave in the Mediterranean Sea has been so severe scientists are concerned for marine life.
The human-induced climate crisis is making marine heatwaves more intense and prolonged, with sea surface temperatures off the coast of Mallorca since late June frequently exceeding 30C (86F).
Portugal's maritime authority said the southern Algarve had experienced a marine heatwave between the 28 June and the 9 July. Temperatures have been significantly higher than the average observed over the past 20 years – with some areas 5C above normal.
This most recent marine heatwave has been the western Mediterranean's most extreme for this time of year. While sea surface temperatures above 30C are not that unusual later in the summer, such conditions are unprecedented in late June.
The impact on marine wildlife and ecosystems from marine heatwaves can be significant. Prolonged exposure can drain the energy from sea creatures to a point where they can no longer survive. There is also evidence that some species go into survival mode and will not reproduce.
Meanwhile, days of torrential rain across South Korea have been responsible for at least four deaths, with two people still unaccounted for.
The country has been pounded by heavy rainfall since Wednesday, prompting the authorities to warn of landslides and flooding. Landslide alerts were raised to the highest level in several regions late last week, including across Chungcheong.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said more than 500mm had been recorded in Seosan, South Chungcheong province, since Wednesday.
As of Saturday, almost 3,000 people had not returned to their homes after more than 7,000 were evacuated. More than 600 properties were reported damaged.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Wipha has brought heavy rain and strong winds to parts of south-east Asia. The weather system hit parts of the Philippines before passing to the south of Taiwan on Saturday.
Rain lashed Hong Kong on Sunday as Wipha moved southwards before making landfall on the coast of Guangdong province in China. The storm is expected to reach northern Vietnam this week, bringing very heavy rain.
More than 110mm of rain was recorded in three hours in Hong Kong, with up to 100mph (161km/h) gusts. Cathay Pacific cancelled all flights for much of Sunday and elsewhere trees and scaffolding were toppled.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Portugal battles three large wildfires in sweltering summer heat
Portugal battles three large wildfires in sweltering summer heat

Reuters

time12 hours ago

  • Reuters

Portugal battles three large wildfires in sweltering summer heat

CANELAS, Portugal, July 29 (Reuters) - More than 1,300 firefighters backed up by a dozen waterbombing planes battled three big wildfires in central and northern Portugal on Tuesday, with authorities putting most of the country on red alert for fires after weeks of hot weather. In the Arouca area, some 300 km (185 miles) north of Lisbon - where the largest of the fires has been raging since Monday -the civil protection service evacuated several dozen villagers from their homes and closed the scenic trails of Passadicos do Paiva, a popular tourist attraction. "It's desperate to see this ... we need help, we need air support," said Rafael Soares, a resident of the village of Canelas, recalling a devastating wildfire last September which burned 6,000 hectares (15,000 acres) of forest near Arouca. He blamed the fires on droughts linked to climate change that have left the area's forests bone-dry. Further north, a wildfire has been raging since Saturday in the Peneda-Geres national park near the Spanish border, enveloping nearby villages in thick smoke that led to orders for residents to stay at home on several occasions. Spain sent several waterbombing aircraft to help control the flames in the area. Three wildfires were raging in Spain's region of Castile and Leon early on Tuesday, the most severe one near Avila, about 100 km (62 miles) west of Madrid. People in the town of Mombeltran were ordered to remain inside due to the smoke. Hot and dry summers are common across the Mediterranean region, but more intense heatwaves have contributed to destructive wildfires in recent years amid fast-rising temperatures around the globe. Turkey has suffered dozens of wildfires in recent weeks as temperatures have soared, and 10 firefighters were killed last week battling a blaze in the central Eskisehir province. At the weekend, several villages in Greece were evacuated and five people were injured in separate wildfires.

Eastern US swelters from heatwave as high temperatures affect half of country
Eastern US swelters from heatwave as high temperatures affect half of country

The Guardian

time19 hours ago

  • The Guardian

Eastern US swelters from heatwave as high temperatures affect half of country

The eastern half of the US is facing a significant heatwave, with more than 185 million people under warnings due to intense and widespread heat conditions on Monday. The south-east is likely to endure the most dangerous temperatures as the extreme heat spread across the region on Monday, spanning from the Carolinas through Florida. In these areas, heat index values (how hot it feels once humidity is accounted for) are forecast to range between 105 and 113F (40.5 to 45C). Some locations in Mississippi and Louisiana face an even greater threat, with the heat index possibly soaring as high as 120F (49C). Meanwhile, the midwest isn't escaping the heat. Conditions there remain hazardous into Monday and Tuesday, after a weekend in which temperatures felt as if they were between 97 and 111F (36 to 44C) in areas from Lincoln, Nebraska, north to Minneapolis. Cities such as Des Moines, St Louis, Memphis, New Orleans, Jacksonville and Raleigh are under extreme heat warnings. In these locations, temperatures will climb into the mid-90s and low 100s, with heat indices potentially reaching 110 to 115F. The most dangerous conditions, classified as level 4 out of 4 on the heat risk scale, encompass much of Florida and extend north into Georgia and the Carolinas. A broader level 3 zone stretches from the eastern plains through the midwest and into the mid-Atlantic. This follows a weekend already dominated by extreme temperatures. Tampa experienced an unprecedented milestone on Sunday when it reached 100F (37.8C). Other cities also broke daily temperature records, and more are expected to follow suit. The dangerous heat and humidity are expected to persist through midweek, affecting major metropolitan areas including St Louis, Memphis, Charlotte, Savannah, Tampa and Jackson, Mississippi. Actual air temperatures will climb into the upper 90s and low 100s, while heat index readings are expected to remain between 105 and 115F for several days due to high tropical moisture. Relief will be hard to find, even during the night. Overnight and early morning temperatures are forecast to dip only into the 70s or above, keeping conditions uncomfortable around the clock. However, a cold front moving in later this week is expected to bring a drop in temperatures across the eastern US, offering a much-needed break from the extreme heat by the weekend. Elsewhere, triple-digit temperatures will dominate the central US. The combination of soaring heat and dense humidity in the Mississippi River valley and central plains could make conditions especially hazardous, with some areas possibly seeing the heat index reach 120F. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion Data suggests that there are more than 1,300 deaths per year in the US due to extreme heat, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. While no one single weather event can be blamed on the global climate crisis, the warming world is experiencing a greater frequency of extreme weather incidents. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), excessive heat is already the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the US, and the problem is only intensifying. For vulnerable populations, such as migrants, prisoners or schoolchildren in under-cooled buildings, the burden of rising temperatures is compounded. Despite the increasingly crucial need to find solutions for the rising temperatures, many US agencies are currently understaffed due to cuts from the Trump administration and the so-called 'department of government efficiency' (Doge). Federal science agencies such as Noaa are now operating at reduced capacity despite the outsized weather threats. Hundreds of meteorologists have left the National Weather Service in recent months, and several offices, including Houston, have had to scale back the services they provide.

At least 17 killed in ‘apocalyptic' Turkey wildfires sparked by record 50C heatwave as thousands flee their homes
At least 17 killed in ‘apocalyptic' Turkey wildfires sparked by record 50C heatwave as thousands flee their homes

The Sun

timea day ago

  • The Sun

At least 17 killed in ‘apocalyptic' Turkey wildfires sparked by record 50C heatwave as thousands flee their homes

AT least 17 people have been killed in apocalyptic wildfires tearing through Turkey as record-breaking 50C heat and howling winds fuel devastation across the eastern Mediterranean. The infernos have forced more than 3,500 residents to flee their homes since late June, with vast swathes of forest reduced to ash. 6 6 Ten rescue volunteers and forestry workers lost their lives in a blaze in Eskisehir last week, while four more died outside Bursa over the weekend. Two volunteer firefighters succumbed to injuries after being pulled from an overturned water tanker. Another worker died at the scene and a firefighter suffered a fatal heart attack on Sunday. Turkey's forestry minister Ibrahim Yumakli confirmed that crews battled at least 44 separate fires on Sunday alone, declaring the western provinces of Izmir and Bilecik disaster areas. The chaos comes as firefighters across the region struggle to contain a wave of blazes fuelled by a relentless heatwave and bone-dry conditions. Across Turkey alone, firefighters have battled more than 600 blazes in the past week, with over 1,900 emergency responders drafted in to help save trapped residents. With record-breaking temperatures showing no sign of easing, officials fear the death toll could rise as the eastern Mediterranean braces for even more infernos. In Greece, a week-long heatwave peaking at 45C sparked multiple wildfires, forcing mass evacuations near Athens and across the islands of Crete and Evia. A huge blaze scorched a northern suburb of the Greek capital on Saturday, with 115 firefighters and 24 vehicles deployed on Evia, backed by six planes and seven helicopters. Meanwhile, Cyprus is battling what officials have branded its worst wildfires 'for 50 years.' Shock moment beachgoers surrounded by smoke as raging wildfires in Italian hols hotspot With temperatures soaring to 44C, dozens of homes have been destroyed in the Troodos mountains. Brit couple Lucy and Ben Armstrong were among those left homeless. Ben told The Sun: 'We lost everything that day, there's nothing left. 'We had fish tanks in the house and there was absolutely nothing left of what was in the water except melted glass on the floor.' Two people were found dead in a burnt-out car as more than 70 houses were reduced to rubble. Meanwhile, in Sardinia, Italy, tourists were sent running for their lives when flames ripped right down to the beach at Punta Molentis on the island's southeast coast. 6 6 Sunbathers abandoned their towels and spades as thick black smoke engulfed the shoreline. The coast guard evacuated 102 people by sea, while helicopters hovered overhead during the dramatic operation. Some 200 cars and a kiosk were torched as the blaze tore through the Sarrabus area — described by local media as a 'jewel' now reduced to cinders. Footage showed burnt-out vehicles after flames ravaged the parking area, leaving many stranded. Fire crews deployed two Canadair firefighting planes, a helicopter, regional aircraft, and even an Italian Air Force vehicle to contain the inferno as winds fanned the flames. 6

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store